Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Mario Ledesma is not leaving Australia to coach Los Jaguares. Reports out of Buenos Aires on Tuesday indicated that the former Pumas hooker was been sought by the UAR to be the next Jaguares Head Coach. Such a move would see him replacing Raúl Pérez.
The 44-year-old Ledesma is the Australian forwards and set piece coach. He took up the position in 2015 and is under contract until 2019. Members of his family back in Argentina made him aware of the speculation of a potential return to take over Los Jaguares.
Having been contacted Ledesma is said to have informed the Australian officials (ARU) he will not be leaving his existing coaching position. The UAR will thereby need to identify and negotiate with other coaches.
Pérez is reportedly coaching Los Jaguares for the final time at home. The Argentine Super Rugby franchise play host to the Southern Kings on Friday. The team will then play two matches in Australia in the remaining rounds of the Super Rugby regular season.
The team’s downward spiral of results this season have seen Pérez’ future determined. Having started well, Los Jaguares went on to lose six of their past seven matches. UAR President Carlos Araujo is not going to extend Pérez’ contract.
The 2018 Super Rugby season will be altered. Three of the existing 18 teams will be cut. Two are to be South African and one Australian. Los Jaguares are to play in the African conference. It is to be one of three. Japan’s Sunwolves will play in the Australian while the New Zealand conference will be exclusively made up of local teams.
